A five year longitudinal study investigating the prevalence of childhood obesity: comparison of BMI and waist circumference.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of obesity over time in the same individuals comparing body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to height ratio (WHtR). Study design: Five year longitudinal repeated measures study (2005–2010). Children were aged 11–12 (Y7) years at baseline and measurements were repeated at age 13–14 (Y9) years and 15–16 (Y11) years. Methods: WC and BMI measurements were carried out by the same person over the five years and raw values were expressed as standard deviation scores (sBMI and sWC) against the growth reference used for British children. Results: Mean sWC measurements were higher than mean sBMI measurements for both sexes and at all assessment occasions and sWC measurements were consistently high in girls compared to boys. Y7 sWC = 0.792 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.675–0.908], Y9 sWC = 0.818 (95%CI 0.709–0.928), Y11 sWC = 0.943 (95%CI 0.827–1.06) for boys; Y7 sWC = 0.843 (0.697–0.989), Y9 sWC = 1.52 (95%CI 1.38–0.67), Y11 sWC = 1.89 (95%CI 1.79–2.04) for girls. Y7 sBMI = 0.445 (95%CI 0.315–0.575), Y9 sBMI = 0.314 (95%CI 0.189–0.438), Y11 sBMI = 0.196 (95%CI 0.054–0.337) for boys; Y7 sBMI = 0.353 (0.227–0.479), Y9 sBMI = 0.343 (95%CI 0.208–0.478), Y11 sBMI = 0.256 (95%CI 0.102–0.409) for girls. The estimated prevalence of obesity defined by BMI decreased in boys (18%, 12% and 10% in Y 7, 9 and 11 respectively) and girls (14%, 15% and 11% in Y 7, 9 and 11). In contrast, the prevalence estimated by WC increased sharply (boys; 13%, 19% and 23%; girls, 20%, 46% and 60%). Conclusion: Central adiposity, measured by WC is increasing alongside a stabilization in BMI. Children appear to be getting fatter and the additional adiposity is being stored centrally which is not detected by BMI. These substantial increases in WC are a serious concern, especially in girls

Bridging rhetoric and practice: new perspectives on barriers to gendered change

Contains fulltext : 167537.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)This article presents a new methodology, Gender Knowledge Contestation Analysis, and uses it to examine the processes under way when transformative gender equality policies, such as gender mainstreaming are implemented. Drawing on data gathered in the European Commission, the findings show the processes linking high-level rhetorical policy statements, strategic policies, and daily working practices. This analysis enables exploration of the mechanisms through which indifference to and nonawareness of gendered policy problems are collectively constituted and methods through which they can be challenged. Findings thus deepen our understanding of barriers to the implementation of gender mainstreaming and the steps required for its effective implementation.20 juli 201

Enhanced absorption Hanle effect on the Fg=F->Fe=F+1 closed transitions

We analyse the Hanle effect on a closed $F_g\to F_e=F_g+1$ transition. Two configurations are examined, for linear- and circular-polarized laser radiation, with the applied magnetic field collinear to the laser light wavevector. We describe the peculiarities of the Hanle signal for linearly-polarized laser excitation, characterized by narrow bright resonances at low laser intensities. The mechanism behind this effect is identified, and numerical solutions for the optical Bloch equations are presented for different transitions.Comment: to be published in J. Opt. B, special issue on Quantum Coherence and Entanglement (February 2001

Next-to-leading Corrections to the Higgs Boson Transverse Momentum Spectrum in Gluon Fusion

We present a fully analytic calculation of the Higgs boson transverse momentum and rapidity distributions, for nonzero Higgs $p_\perp$, at next-to-leading order in the infinite-top-mass approximation. We separate the cross section into a part that contains the dominant soft, virtual, collinear, and small-$p_\perp$-enhanced contributions, and the remainder, which is organized by the contributions due to different parton helicities. We use this cross section to investigate analytically the small-$p_\perp$ limit and compare with the expectation from the resummation of large logarithms of the type $\ln{m_H/p_\perp}$. We also compute numerically the cross section at moderate $p_\perp$ where a fixed-order calculation is reliable. We find a $K$-factor that varies from $\approx1.6-1.8$, and a reduction in the scale dependence, as compared to leading order. Our analysis suggests that the contribution of current parton distributions to the total uncertainty on this cross section at the LHC is probably less than that due to uncalculated higher orders.Comment: 40 pages, 10 figures, JHEP style (minor changes, added reference

Development of sustainability indicator scoring (SIS) for the food supply chain

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify mechanisms for using a quantitative benchmarking approach to drive sustainability improvements in the food supply chain. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was undertaken and then a strategic and operational framework developed for improving food supply chain sustainability in terms of triple bottom line criteria. Findings Using a sustainability indicator scoring approach, the paper considers the architecture for analysis so that strategic goals can be clearly formulated and cascade into specific, relevant and timebound strategic and operational measures that underpin brand value and product integrity. Originality/value This paper is of value to academics and also practitioners in the food industry

Determinants of response to a parent questionnaire about development and behaviour in 3 year olds: European multicentre study of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Background: We aimed to determine how response to a parent-completed postal questionnaire measuring development, behaviour, impairment, and parental concerns and anxiety, varies in different European centres. Methods: Prospective cohort study of 3 year old children, with and without congenital toxoplasmosis, who were identified by prenatal or neonatal screening for toxoplasmosis in 11 centres in 7 countries. Parents were mailed a questionnaire that comprised all or part of existing validated tools. We determined the effect of characteristics of the centre and child on response, age at questionnaire completion, and response to child drawing tasks. Results: The questionnaire took 21 minutes to complete on average. 67% (714/1058) of parents responded. Few parents (60/1058) refused to participate. The strongest determinants of response were the score for organisational attributes of the study centre (such as direct involvement in follow up and access to an address register), and infection with congenital toxoplasmosis. Age at completion was associated with study centre, presence of neurological abnormalities in early infancy, and duration of prenatal treatment. Completion rates for individual questions exceeded 92% except for child completed drawings of a man (70%), which were completed more by girls, older children, and in certain centres. Conclusion: Differences in response across European centres were predominantly related to the organisation of follow up and access to correct addresses. The questionnaire was acceptable in all six countries and offers a low cost tool for assessing development, behaviour, and parental concerns and anxiety, in multinational studies

Inter-cluster reactivity of Metallo-aromatic and anti-aromatic Compounds and Their Applications in Molecular Electronics: A Theoretical Investigation

Local reactivity descriptors such as the condensed local softness and Fukui function have been employed to investigate the inter-cluster reactivity of the metallo-aromatic (Al4Li- and Al4Na-) and anti-aromatic (Al4Li4 and Al4Na4) compounds. We use the concept of group softness and group Fukui function to study the strength of the nucleophilicity of the Al4 unit in these compounds. Our analysis shows that the trend of nucleophilicity of the Al4 unit in the above clusters is as follows; Al4Li- > Al4Na- > Al4Li4 > Al4Na 4 For the first time we have used the reactivity descriptors to show that these clusters can act as electron donating systems and thus can be used as a molecular cathode.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure and 1 table of conten

Refining area of occupancy to address the modifiable areal unit problem in ecology and conservation

The ‘modifiable areal unit problem’ is prevalent across many aspects of spatial analysis within ecology and conservation. The problem is particularly manifest when calculating metrics for extinction risk estimation, for example, area of occupancy (AOO).Although embedded into the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria, AOO is often not used or is poorly applied. Here we evaluate new and existing methods for calculating AOO from occurrence records and present a method for determining the minimum AOO using a uniform grid. We evaluate the grid cell shape, grid origin and grid rotation with both real-world and simulated data, reviewing the effects on AOO values, and possible impacts for species already assessed on the IUCN Red List. We show that AOO can vary by up to 80% and a ratio of cells to points of 1:1.21 gives the maximum variation in the number of occupied cells. These findings potentially impact 3% of existing species on the IUCN Red List, as well as species not yet assessed. We show that a new method that combines both grid rotation and moving grid origin gives fast, robust and reproducible results and, in the majority of cases, achieves the minimum AOO. As well as reporting minimum AOO, we outline a confidence interval which should be incorporated in to existing tools that support species risk assessment. We also make further recommendations for reporting AOO and other areal measurements within ecology, leading to more robust methods for future species risk assessment

The potential for peak shaving on low voltage distribution networks using electricity storage

Co-location of energy storage with demand provides several benefits over other locations, while still being able to provide balancing services to the grid. One of these additional benefits is deferral of distribution infrastructure reinforcement, allowing increased load growth. This paper considers the potential of electricity storage for peak shaving on distribution networks, focusing on residential areas. A demand model is used to synthesise high resolution domestic load profiles, and these are used within Monte Carlo analysis to determine how much peak shaving could be achieved with storage. An efficient method of finding the potential peak shaving using electricity storage is developed for this purpose. It is shown that moderate levels of storage capacity can deliver significant demand reductions, if suitably coordinated and incentivised. With 2 kWh of battery storage per household, the peak demand at low voltage substations could potentially be halved. The effects of PV capacity, household size and C rates are considered. With 3 kW PV per house, 4.5 kWh of batteries could keep peak flows at the same level as before the addition of PV. It is also shown that 3 kWh of battery storage per household could allow provision of all heating from heat pumps without increasing t he peak demand